Apple, Facebook and Google are three of today’s most vibrant companies.

What do they have in common?

They all understand that the value of their business is built on what they know about their business and their customers. They know that information is the key to contemporary business success.

Deakin University’s Business School is a global leader.

Its online MBA is ranked in the world’s top 20 and the School is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). AACSB accreditation is recognised worldwide and is awarded to business schools that meet strict standards of quality, academic and professional excellence.

0:06Skip to 0 minutes and 6 secondsThink about this. Amazon dominates the global book market. Google owns the search engine market. iTunes has more than 60% of music sales. What do they know that their competition didn't? Hello, my name is Rens Scheepers. I'm from Deakin University. And in this two-week course, we'll ask the question, how can information give you a competitive edge in business? We'll use business value as the stepping stone, to explore the key theme at the heart of this course, the value of information to build a competitive advantage. We'll explore the value of information in business, and how it can be used to create an unbreakable bond with customers.

0:47Skip to 0 minutes and 47 secondsYou'll get to analyse your own business situation, and develop the confidence to make better decisions in business. You'll engage with fellow learners in discussions about competitive situations, and opportunities that you might explore. And, finally, you'll develop an understanding of the key elements that set your business apart from the rest, and how to stay ahead. Join us in sharpening your competitive advantage, and gather the momentum it takes to succeed in business. I look forward to seeing you soon.

What topics will you&nbspcover?

value of information to businesses as a competitive advantage

entrepreneurial spirit and how to elevate yourself above the competition

case studies of how businesses use information to generate distinctive ideas and create new opportunities

situation analysis to develop the confidence to make decisions that lead to achieving personal goals

competitive nature and the ethical implications of having an information advantage

elements that set your business apart and how to use this knowledge to stay ahead.

When would you like to&nbspstart?

Date to be announced

Add to Wishlist to be emailed when new dates are announced

What will you&nbspachieve?

By the end of the course, you'll be able to...

Identify how information and IT can generate business value for competitive advantage

Discover how different kinds of IT investments provide different types of business value

Analyse your own competitive advantage and the value of informaton you hold

Develop a plan for how you can successfully use the value of information in your career

Who is the course&nbspfor?

This course is aimed at a wide range of learners interested in the way contemporary businesses use information to gain a competitive advantage. It will be of particular interest to new small to medium enterprises and learners devising new business plans.

What do people say about this course?

Thank you for an excellent course and information on additional learning. I loved the course, have learnt a great deal and am very grateful. Take home message/take to my new business is: Business model = logic of firm = how it operates, creates revenues and business value. Importance of 'fit' between a business model and IT investment. Automation = information and efficiency gains help organisations become more competitive and profitable.

Who developed the&nbspcourse?

Advance your career with a degree

Since 2017 you have been able to take a degree on FutureLearn. This free course is a bit like a starter course for a degree — it should give you a flavour of the degree subject but can also be your first step towards a degree qualification.

If you enjoy this course you can apply to join the program it’s part of to start working towards a degree on FutureLearn.

Don’t worry, you can still take the course without doing a full degree!